Collapsible cardboard carton



April 1, 1952 H. c. BLOOMER 2,

COLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD CARTON Filed July 16, 1948 25 /8/9 i i A i- Ila 22 i A 1 l3 5 l/ i i V 2/ a i v /4 52 i i g INVEN TOR.

HARRISON 0. BLOOMER A TTOR VEY Patented Apr. 1, 1952 2,591,500 I coLLArsmLE CARDBOARD CARTON Harrison 0. Bloomer, Newark,.N. Y., assignor to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,097

This invention relates to collapsible cardboard cartons and, more particularly, to the variety thereof made from a single blank of cardboard or other foldable sheet material and capable of being collapsed for transportation and storage and readily erected for use.

One object of the invention is to provide a carton of the above character having a more simple, economical and rigid construction.

Another object is the provision of such a carton capable of being rapidly and economically manufactured in collapsed condition ready to be conveniently erected for use. 4

Another object is to supply a carton having the above advantages and requiring a minimum of cardboard stock, but having a construction in which the several parts are integrally connected and rigidly reinforce each other to produce a strong carton with means for securely interlocking its parts in erected position. v 1

To'these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank of sheet material which is folded to form the carton;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but with side strips folded back under and glued to the body of the blank to complete the blank in collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the blank parts partially folded and erected;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but showing the parts completely erected for use, and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one end of the erected carton.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

2 Claims. (01. 229-31) 2 lines l9 with score lines 12 adjacent the of the latter with the end score lines I l or their offset portions IN, the score lines I!) preferablymaking an angle of about 45 with the score lines- I2. Score line l9 preferably includes short slits at its ends to facilitate folding.

The portions at opposite sides of the bot-.- tom panel l3 are thus adapted to be folded upwardly and outwardly about the score lines l2 during simultaneous upward folding of the end walls M. The substantially triangular portions 2i, each enclosed between score lines H and I9 and slit extension l1, provide webs foldably connecting the side and end walls. The portion ofscore line I l between each of these webs and the adjacent end of side wall 20 is preferably offset or inclined slightly inwardly as at l IHfor a purpose hereafter described. Y

Each side. strip I5 is preferably formed. adjacent each'end with a channel-shaped lslit 22- lying substantially in line with score line .I if, this channel-shaped slit being disposed with its open. side toward the adjacent end of the blank and forming a tongue 22, for a purpose hereafter described.

Each end wall I4 is provided with a score line 23 hingedly connecting the same with a locking flap 2,4, the outer sides of which are preferably inclinedinwardly as at 25. Flap 24 is cut to form at each outer corner thereof a locking projection or lug 26 for cooperation with looking slots formed by the slits 22 of the side strips when the carton is folded into erected position as hereafter described.

The outer edges of the side strips [5 are supplied with suitable applications of glue, or other herein disclosed by way of illustration, the carton is made from a single blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material indicated generally at I!) (Fig. 1), which is cut and scored, as shown, ready for folding. In this. condition the blank is formed, adjacent opposite ends, with-a pair of 1 across the score lines II and into the end walls l4 in which the slit extensions are preferably turned in angular directions, as at H, toward the score lines I 2, but ending at a substantial distance therefrom, as shown. The ends 18 of these slit extensions are connected by diagonal score adhesive, along the marginal edges thereof on the same side of the blank, as at 21, and withthe blank so prepared, the side strips [5 are first reversely folded about the score lines l2 so as to lie against the back or under side of the body of the blank,- as shown in1Fig. 2. The side strips thus have their marginal portionsglued to the bottom panel l3 between the slits l6 thereof and extending from end to end ofthe bottom panel and across the end walls- M to the fold lines 23 of the locking flaps 24;.- Strips l5 thus form a double thickness over a substantial portion of the bottom panel-l3 and the end walls 14, to substantially reinforce and stiffen such parts. It is thus unnecessary-to overlapthe strips and they may be givenan aggregate width substantially less than that of the bottom panel, to effect a saving'in material. The width of the strips and the spacing between their outer edges may be varied, depending upon the extent of the area over which it is desired to reinforce the bottom panel.

The blank isthus adapted to be readily and rapidly folded and glued in the flat form shown in Fig. 2 in which it is in suitable condition junction for storage and transportation. To erect the folded blank for use, the free edges of the side walls 20 are grasped at the slit l6 and raised upwardly and outwardly, hinging these side walls about the score lines l2, ll and i9. This tends, through the webs 2| to. simultaneously raise the end walls 14, assisted by upward pressure thereon if desired, as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the side and end walls have been raised to fully erected position, the locking flaps 24 are folded inwardly and downwardly around the score lines 23, over and against the inside of webs 2| and the end walls, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the lugs 26 being pressed downwardly through the openings left by the raising of the side walls and into the slots formed at the slits 22 in the side. strips, these slots being opened up as the tongues 22 formed by the slits are turned downwardly by the upward folding of the ends of the strips beyond the score lines I I along with the end walls to which they are glued. The slight inward inclination of the score lines H tends to pull the locking flaps 24 and the tops of the end walls inwardly to compensate for any slight deformation or yielding at the points of folding and contact between the end walls, locking flaps and webs, so that the end walls are brought to fully vertical position, as

in the completed condition of the parts illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

It is evident from the above description that the blanks are of such a nature that they may be readily cut, scored, folded and glued, as illustrated in Figs. iv and 2-, in a rapid manner and with a. minimum of manufacturing operations and cost. A blank so prepared is quickly and conveniently erected, the side walls being presented in readily accessible position on the upper surface of the fiat bottom panel. The erection of. the side walls operates effectively to erect the end walls to which the webs 2| at the ends of the side walls are integrally hinged. The reinforcing side strips l are glued throughouttheir lengths to the bottom panel and end walls and thus integrally united therewith, so as to furnish an integral formation of double thickness and substantially reinforce the bottom panel and end walls, eliminating any lost motion or play between these parts and the reinforcing strips. The lugs 26 of the locking. flaps are inserted both through the openings left by the upward folding of the side walls and the openings formed by the slits 22 in the side strips so as to securely lock the parts in erected position. These advantages are obtained in a construction which is economical as regards both the amount of sheet material required and the manufacturing operations necessary to prepare the blank in condition for erection and use. The carton may be quickly and conveniently erected by the user and supplies a strongly reinforced and rigid container or tray for foods and other articles.

It will thus be seen that the invention accompI-ishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible carton made from a single blank of foldable sheet material cut, scored and folded to form a bottom panel having end walls hinged to the opposite ends thereof and reinforcing strips folded reversely at the opposite sides thereof and glued to said panel and end walls, said panel having longitudinally extending slits spaced laterally from each other and inwardly from the fold lines of said strips and extended into said end walls, score lines connecting the ends of said slit extension with said. strip fold lines adjacent the junction thereof with the hinge lines of said end walls and making an angle of about 45 with said. strip fold lines, the portions of said panel between said slits and strip fold lines being foldable' about said strip fold lines to form side walls and the portions of said end walls between said slit extension and said score lines forming webs foldably connecting said side and end walls, said strips being formed with slots arranged to lie substantially in' line with the hinge lines of said end walls and with the openings in said bottom panel left by the erection therefrom of said side walls, and flaps hinged to the outer ends of said end walls and foldable downwardly and inwardly over said webs and between the ends of said side walls and having lugs on the free ends thereof for engagement through said panel opening in said slots of said strips for interlocking said parts in erected position.

2, A collapsible carton made from a single blank of foldable sheet material. cut, scored and folded to form a bottom panel having end walls hinged to the opposite ends thereof and reinforcing strips folded reversely at the opposite sides thereof, and glued to said panel and end walls, said strips having an aggregate lateral width substantially less than the lateral width of said bottom panel and having the outer edges thereof disposed in substantially spaced relation with each other and glued to said bottom panel throughout the longitudinal extent of said panel and said hingedly connected end walls, said panel having longitudinally extending slits spaced laterally from each other and located between the outer glued edges of said reinforcing strips and the fold lines of said strips, said slits extending into said end walls, score lines connecting the ends of said slit extensions with said strip fold lines adjacent the junction thereof with the hinge lines of said end walls and making an angle of about 45 with said strip fold lines, the portions of said panel between said slits and strip fold lines being foldable about said strip fold lines to form side walls and the portions of said end walls between said slit extensions and said score lines forming webs foldably connecting said side and end walls, and flaps hinged to the outer ends of said end walls and foldable inwardly and downwardly over said webs and between the ends of said side walls to hold said parts in erected position.

HARRISON C. BLOOMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,274,'7l4 Levkoff Mar 3, 1942 2,351,528 Lupton June 13, 1944 2,382,844 Arneson Aug. 14, 1945 

